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Chien YL, Tai YM, Chiu YN, Tsai WC, Gau SSF. The mediators for the link between autism and real-world executive functions in adolescence and young adulthood. AUTISM : THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND PRACTICE 2024; 28:881-895. [PMID: 37522400 DOI: 10.1177/13623613231184733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/01/2023]
Abstract
LAY ABSTRACT Childhood factors that predict real-world executive function in autism spectrum disorder during the transition into adulthood are largely unknown. This study aimed to identify the predictors for the behavioral and cognitive aspects of real-world executive function in late adolescent and young adult autistic populations. We followed up 289 autistic youth (mean age 11.6 years) and 203 non-autistic controls (10.7 years) to their ages of 16.9 and 15.8, respectively. The Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function scale was used to measure the real-world executive function at late adolescence and young adulthood at follow-up. Potential predictors such as autistic symptoms, inattention or hyperactivity symptoms, peer relationship, emotional symptoms, and parenting styles were assessed in childhood at first enrollment. The results showed that childhood inattention, withdrawn behaviors, social communication difficulties, and child-reported emotion and inattention/hyperactivity may predict real-world lower executive function in late adolescence and young adults with autism. When separating executive function into behavioral and cognitive aspects, we found that oppositional behaviors and peer problems were specific predictors for behavioral regulation and cognitive function, respectively. Our findings suggested that treating common predictors in childhood, such as inattention, may potentially improve real-world executive function in autism during the transition into adulthood.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yueh-Ming Tai
- Tri-Service General Hospital of National Defense Medical Center, Taiwan
| | | | | | - Susan Shur-Fen Gau
- National Taiwan University Hospital, Taiwan
- National Taiwan University, Taiwan
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Kuang N, Liu Z, Yu G, Wu X, Becker B, Fan H, Peng S, Zhang K, Zhao J, Kang J, Dong G, Zhao X, Sahakian BJ, Robbins TW, Cheng W, Feng J, Schumann G, Palaniyappan L, Zhang J. Neurodevelopmental risk and adaptation as a model for comorbidity among internalizing and externalizing disorders: genomics and cell-specific expression enriched morphometric study. BMC Med 2023; 21:291. [PMID: 37542243 PMCID: PMC10403847 DOI: 10.1186/s12916-023-02920-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Comorbidity is the rule rather than the exception for childhood and adolescent onset mental disorders, but we cannot predict its occurrence and do not know the neural mechanisms underlying comorbidity. We investigate if the effects of comorbid internalizing and externalizing disorders on anatomical differences represent a simple aggregate of the effects on each disorder and if these comorbidity-associated cortical surface differences relate to a distinct genetic underpinning. METHODS We studied the cortical surface area (SA) and thickness (CT) of 11,878 preadolescents (9-10 years) from the Adolescent Brain and Cognitive Development Study. Linear mixed models were implemented in comparative and association analyses among internalizing (dysthymia, major depressive disorder, disruptive mood dysregulation disorder, agoraphobia, panic disorder, specific phobia, separation anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder), externalizing (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, conduct disorder) diagnostic groups, a group with comorbidity of the two and a healthy control group. Genome-wide association analysis (GWAS) and cell type specificity analysis were performed on 4468 unrelated European participants from this cohort. RESULTS Smaller cortical surface area but higher thickness was noted across patient groups when compared to controls. Children with comorbid internalizing and externalizing disorders had more pronounced areal reduction than those without comorbidity, indicating an additive burden. In contrast, cortical thickness had a non-linear effect with comorbidity: the comorbid group had no significant CT differences, while those patient groups without comorbidity had significantly higher thickness compare to healthy controls. Distinct biological pathways were implicated in regional SA and CT differences. Specifically, CT differences were associated with immune-related processes implicating astrocytes and oligodendrocytes, while SA-related differences related mainly to inhibitory neurons. CONCLUSION The emergence of comorbidity across distinct clusters of psychopathology is unlikely to be due to a simple additive neurobiological effect alone. Distinct developmental risk moderated by immune-related adaptation processes, with unique genetic and cell-specific factors, may contribute to underlying SA and CT differences. Children with the highest risk but lowest resilience, both captured in their developmental morphometry, may develop a comorbid illness pattern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nanyu Kuang
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain Inspired Intelligence, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Computational Neuroscience and Brain Inspired Intelligence, Ministry of Education, Fudan University, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhaowen Liu
- School of Computer Science, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, Shanxin, People's Republic of China
| | - Gechang Yu
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain Inspired Intelligence, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Computational Neuroscience and Brain Inspired Intelligence, Ministry of Education, Fudan University, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Xinran Wu
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain Inspired Intelligence, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Computational Neuroscience and Brain Inspired Intelligence, Ministry of Education, Fudan University, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Benjamin Becker
- Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, MOE Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, People's Republic of China
| | - Huaxin Fan
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain Inspired Intelligence, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Computational Neuroscience and Brain Inspired Intelligence, Ministry of Education, Fudan University, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Songjun Peng
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain Inspired Intelligence, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Computational Neuroscience and Brain Inspired Intelligence, Ministry of Education, Fudan University, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Kai Zhang
- Institute of Computer Science and Technology, East China Normal University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiajia Zhao
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain Inspired Intelligence, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Computational Neuroscience and Brain Inspired Intelligence, Ministry of Education, Fudan University, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Jujiao Kang
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain Inspired Intelligence, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
- Shanghai Center for Mathematical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Guiying Dong
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain Inspired Intelligence, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
- MOE Key Laboratory of Computational Neuroscience and Brain-Inspired Intelligence and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Xingming Zhao
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain Inspired Intelligence, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
- MOE Key Laboratory of Computational Neuroscience and Brain-Inspired Intelligence and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
- Zhangjiang Fudan International Innovation Center, Shanghai, 200433, People's Republic of China
| | - Barbara J Sahakian
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain Inspired Intelligence, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Trevor W Robbins
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain Inspired Intelligence, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
- Department of Psychology, Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Wei Cheng
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain Inspired Intelligence, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Computational Neuroscience and Brain Inspired Intelligence, Ministry of Education, Fudan University, Beijing, People's Republic of China
- Fudan ISTBI-ZJNU Algorithm Centre for Brain-inspired Intelligence, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, 321004, China
- Shanghai Medical College and Zhongshan Hospital Immunotherapy Technology Transfer Center, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Jianfeng Feng
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain Inspired Intelligence, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Computational Neuroscience and Brain Inspired Intelligence, Ministry of Education, Fudan University, Beijing, People's Republic of China
- Shanghai Center for Mathematical Sciences, Shanghai, 200433, People's Republic of China
- Department of Computer Science, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, People's Republic of China
- Fudan ISTBI-ZJNU Algorithm Centre for Brain-inspired Intelligence, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, People's Republic of China
| | - Gunter Schumann
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain Inspired Intelligence, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
- PONS Research Group, Department of Psychiatry and 20 Psychotherapy, Humboldt University, Berlin and Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, Campus Charite Mitte, Magdeburg, Germany.
| | - Lena Palaniyappan
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
- Department of Psychiatry, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada.
- Robarts Research Institute, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada.
- Department of Medical Biophysica, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada.
| | - Jie Zhang
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain Inspired Intelligence, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
- Key Laboratory of Computational Neuroscience and Brain Inspired Intelligence, Ministry of Education, Fudan University, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
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Development and psychometric characteristics of analog measures of parental empathy. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0259522. [PMID: 34735530 PMCID: PMC8568170 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0259522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2021] [Accepted: 10/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite substantial literature on the effect of empathy on parenting, empathy research has historically suffered from definitional and methodological limitations. Parental empathy can be characterized as parents’ ability to recognize, take the perspective of, and appropriately react to children’s emotions. Current parental empathy assessment largely relies on self-report measures of dispositional empathy, but many argue parental empathy is distinct from dispositional empathy. Despite efforts to measure parental empathy implicitly, such analog approaches are labor intensive. The current report describes the preliminary development of the Empathy Measure for Parents Analog Task (EMPAT), two novel analog measures of parental empathy: one EMPAT analog uses audio stimuli and a second version uses written evocative scripts. After piloting with a sample of undergraduate students (Study 1), the measures were then administered to a sample of 212 parents (Study 2). For each study, the accuracy of the audio and script stimuli were first confirmed by examination of frequency distributions, then exploratory factor analyses were conducted to determine factor structure for each emotion subscale (i.e., Happy, Mad, Sad, Scared), and finally the composition of each emotion subscale was confirmed with scale reliability analyses. Correlations between each EMPAT version and measures of dispositional empathy, parental empathy, and positive parenting indicators were examined to assess the initial validity of the EMPAT measures. The new analog tasks demonstrated good reliability as well as preliminary evidence of validity, with potential utility in assessing cognitive elements of empathy in particular. With continued efforts to examine measure validity, the implications of these studies suggest the EMPAT tasks show promise in providing improved implicit, efficient assessments of child-directed empathy, which may be important for understanding positive and problematic parenting.
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Cristofani C, Sesso G, Cristofani P, Fantozzi P, Inguaggiato E, Muratori P, Narzisi A, Pfanner C, Pisano S, Polidori L, Ruglioni L, Valente E, Masi G, Milone A. The Role of Executive Functions in the Development of Empathy and Its Association with Externalizing Behaviors in Children with Neurodevelopmental Disorders and Other Psychiatric Comorbidities. Brain Sci 2020; 10:E489. [PMID: 32731515 PMCID: PMC7465618 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci10080489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2020] [Revised: 07/21/2020] [Accepted: 07/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Executive functions have been previously shown to correlate with empathic attitudes and prosocial behaviors. People with higher levels of executive functions, as a whole, may better regulate their emotions and reduce perceived distress during the empathetic processes. Our goal was to explore the relationship between empathy and executive functioning in a sample of children and adolescents diagnosed with Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder alone or associated with comorbid Disruptive Behavior Disorders and/or Autism Spectrum Disorder. We also aimed to examine the role of empathic dimensions and executive skills in regulating externalizing behaviors. The 151 participants with ADHD were assigned to four groups according to their psychiatric comorbidity (either "pure" or with ASD and/or ODD/CD) and assessed by means of either parent- or self-reported questionnaires, namely the BRIEF-2, the BES, and the IRI. No questionnaire was found to discriminate between the four groups. Affective Empathy was found to positively correlate with Emotional and Behavioral Regulation competences. Furthermore, Aggressiveness and Oppositional Defiant Problems were positively associated with Executive Emotional and Behavioral Regulation competences. On the other hand, Rule-Breaking Behaviors and Conduct Problems were negatively associated with Affective Empathy and with Behavioral skills. Our study provides an additional contribution for a better understanding of the complex relationship between empathic competence and executive functions, showing that executive functioning and empathic attitudes interact with each other to regulate aggressive behaviors. This study further corroborates developmental models of empathy and their clinical implications, for which externalizing behaviors could be attenuated by enhancing executive functioning skills.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Cristofani
- IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, 56128 Pisa (Calambrone), Italy; (C.C.); (G.S.); (P.C.); (P.F.); (E.I.); (P.M.); (A.N.); (C.P.); (L.P.); (L.R.); (E.V.); (G.M.)
| | - Gianluca Sesso
- IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, 56128 Pisa (Calambrone), Italy; (C.C.); (G.S.); (P.C.); (P.F.); (E.I.); (P.M.); (A.N.); (C.P.); (L.P.); (L.R.); (E.V.); (G.M.)
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Paola Cristofani
- IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, 56128 Pisa (Calambrone), Italy; (C.C.); (G.S.); (P.C.); (P.F.); (E.I.); (P.M.); (A.N.); (C.P.); (L.P.); (L.R.); (E.V.); (G.M.)
| | - Pamela Fantozzi
- IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, 56128 Pisa (Calambrone), Italy; (C.C.); (G.S.); (P.C.); (P.F.); (E.I.); (P.M.); (A.N.); (C.P.); (L.P.); (L.R.); (E.V.); (G.M.)
| | - Emanuela Inguaggiato
- IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, 56128 Pisa (Calambrone), Italy; (C.C.); (G.S.); (P.C.); (P.F.); (E.I.); (P.M.); (A.N.); (C.P.); (L.P.); (L.R.); (E.V.); (G.M.)
| | - Pietro Muratori
- IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, 56128 Pisa (Calambrone), Italy; (C.C.); (G.S.); (P.C.); (P.F.); (E.I.); (P.M.); (A.N.); (C.P.); (L.P.); (L.R.); (E.V.); (G.M.)
| | - Antonio Narzisi
- IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, 56128 Pisa (Calambrone), Italy; (C.C.); (G.S.); (P.C.); (P.F.); (E.I.); (P.M.); (A.N.); (C.P.); (L.P.); (L.R.); (E.V.); (G.M.)
| | - Chiara Pfanner
- IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, 56128 Pisa (Calambrone), Italy; (C.C.); (G.S.); (P.C.); (P.F.); (E.I.); (P.M.); (A.N.); (C.P.); (L.P.); (L.R.); (E.V.); (G.M.)
| | - Simone Pisano
- Department of Neuroscience, AORN Santobono-Pausilipon, 80122 Naples, Italy;
- Department of Translational Medical Sciences, Federico II University, 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Lisa Polidori
- IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, 56128 Pisa (Calambrone), Italy; (C.C.); (G.S.); (P.C.); (P.F.); (E.I.); (P.M.); (A.N.); (C.P.); (L.P.); (L.R.); (E.V.); (G.M.)
| | - Laura Ruglioni
- IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, 56128 Pisa (Calambrone), Italy; (C.C.); (G.S.); (P.C.); (P.F.); (E.I.); (P.M.); (A.N.); (C.P.); (L.P.); (L.R.); (E.V.); (G.M.)
| | - Elena Valente
- IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, 56128 Pisa (Calambrone), Italy; (C.C.); (G.S.); (P.C.); (P.F.); (E.I.); (P.M.); (A.N.); (C.P.); (L.P.); (L.R.); (E.V.); (G.M.)
| | - Gabriele Masi
- IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, 56128 Pisa (Calambrone), Italy; (C.C.); (G.S.); (P.C.); (P.F.); (E.I.); (P.M.); (A.N.); (C.P.); (L.P.); (L.R.); (E.V.); (G.M.)
| | - Annarita Milone
- IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, 56128 Pisa (Calambrone), Italy; (C.C.); (G.S.); (P.C.); (P.F.); (E.I.); (P.M.); (A.N.); (C.P.); (L.P.); (L.R.); (E.V.); (G.M.)
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Gatej AR, Lamers A, van Domburgh L, Vermeiren R. Perspectives on clinical guidelines for severe behavioural problems in children across Europe: a qualitative study with mental health clinicians. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2020; 29:501-513. [PMID: 31278526 PMCID: PMC7103577 DOI: 10.1007/s00787-019-01365-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2019] [Accepted: 06/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Clinical guidelines for severe behavioural problems (SBPs) in children have recently been developed in several European countries. However, questions emerged regarding their applicability to practice. Our study aimed to provide a first European insight into guidelines' fitness-for-purpose by exploring mental health clinicians' familiarity with, use and perceived value of guidelines for SBPs in children. Participants included 161 clinicians, primarily psychiatrists, from 24 countries. Clinicians completed a semi-structured qualitative questionnaire on existing SBPs guidelines and development of new guidelines where not available. Clinicians' responses were mapped against academic experts' perceptions on SBPs guidelines highlighted in a previous study (Gatej et al. in Eur Psychiatry 57:1-9, 2019). Under half of the clinicians reported being unaware of guidelines. Of these, 37.6% represented countries where guidelines were available according to experts. The remaining half of clinicians who were aware of guidelines on average reported being moderately familiar with their content, perceiving them as moderately useful and using them some of the time. Additionally, 60.8% clinicians agreed that SBPs guidelines need to be developed, as these would create a shared scientific knowledge base and common practice. Guideline improvements included taking a multifactorial approach, creating specific case recommendations, and dissemination efforts. The modest familiarity with and use of guidelines amongst practitioners may highlight guidelines poor fitness-for-purpose, or, alternatively, an underlying confusion around the meaning and purpose of guidelines. Moving forward, efforts should be directed at disseminating clearer definitions of guidelines, addressing existing challenges, and unifying efforts to further develop and audit application of international guidelines for SBPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra-Raluca Gatej
- Curium-LUMC, Academic Centre of Child and Youth Psychiatry, Endegeesterstraatweg 27, 2342 AK Oegstgeest, The Netherlands
| | - Audri Lamers
- Curium-LUMC, Academic Centre of Child and Youth Psychiatry, Endegeesterstraatweg 27, 2342 AK Oegstgeest, The Netherlands
- De Opvoedpoli, Child and Youth Psychiatry, Rode Kruisstraat 32, 1025 KN Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Lieke van Domburgh
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, VU University Medical Centre, 1007 MB Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Intermetzo/Pluryn, Research and Development Department, PO Box 53, 6500 AB Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Robert Vermeiren
- Curium-LUMC, Academic Centre of Child and Youth Psychiatry, Endegeesterstraatweg 27, 2342 AK Oegstgeest, The Netherlands
- Lucertis – de Jutters, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Parnassia Group, The Hague, The Netherlands
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